Indian border districts vulnerable to Power theft.

The enforcement wing of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has detected 41 cases of electricity theft in border districts. The PSPCL, during its drive to crack the whip on errants, conducted surprise checks at 318 power consumers’ premises in Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Amritsar. Of them, 41 were found drawing electricity illegally.

Officials have imposed a fine of Rs 22.36 lakh on the offenders. As many as six theft cases were detected in Pathankot and Tarn Taran. The enforcement wing in Amritsar checked 132 connections and detected 19 thefts.

Power theft continues to be a major factor behind losses being incurred by the PSPCL. The theft of electricity entails penalty, but even then such cases surface on a regular basis. [Courtesy: Tribune News Service, Amritsar]